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| Del Close (Man in alley) Born: March 9, 1934 Died: March 4, 1999 One would never suspect the talent that this man possessed by his brief appearnce in Graffitti. As Toad is getting sick in the alley, Del Close is the man sitting on a Rambler Classic remarking to Debbie that her boyfriend must not have been used to drinking. Before Graffiti, actor, improviser, writer, and teacher, Close made several appearnces on the 1960s TV comedy, "My Mother the Car," and appeared in other wacky 60's sit-coms like "Get Smart." A year before Graffiti was released he was featured in the 1972 film, "Beware! The Blob" (Graffiti star, Cindy Williams also appeared in the film). Mr. Close was working as director of the San Francisco improvisational comedy troupe "The Committee" when he and some of the other players were hired to be in Graffiti. After his brief cameo in the film, Mr. Close had parts in films such as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," (1986) as the English Teacher and played "Alderman" alongside Graffiti co-star, Charles Martin Smith in "The Untouchables," (1987). Other notable achievements include working as an acting coach for Saturday Night Live (SNL), and being one of the fouding members of Chicago's Second City comedy troupe, where Mr. Close discoverd and cultivated the talents of John Belushi, Chris Farley, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, and countless other comedy giants. Mr. Close died on March 4, 1999 of heart and respiratory failure. He was 64 years old at the time. Close donated his skull in his will to the Goodman Theatre for use in Hamlet productions, on the condition that he should receive credit in the program as Yorick. In 2005, Jeff Griggs published Guru, a book detailing his friendship with Del during the last two years of his life. |
| above: Listed in the original credits as "Man in Alley" for his Graffiti appearance. below: The many faces of Del circa late-90s. |
| Close-ups of Del Close |
| Manuel Padilla Jr. who, I guess you'd call a childhood actor, began his Hollywood career at the age of 7 with an appearance on the long-running, TV-Western, Bonanza. He continued with brief appearances on other TV Westerns including, Gunsmoke and Rawhide, throughout the sixties. In 1966 he was cast as a regular on the short-lived, TV series, Tarzan. He also appeared in four of the Tarzan movies made from 1966-67. After appearing as gang member, "Carlos" in Graffiti he played alongside Graffiti co-star, Ron Howard as gang member, "Squirt" in a 1974 episode of Happy Days. Later he appeared in the TV movie, "Cotten Candy" (1978) directed by none other than Ron Howard. His last known screen appearance was in "Scarface" (1983) starring Al Pachino where he's credited as "Kid #2." Sadly, Manuel pased away Jan. 30th 2008. |
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| Beefcake, Mike Henry as Tarzan & Manuel Padilla, Jr. as Pepe in "Tarzan and the Great River," (1967). |
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| Manuel Padilla, Jr. (Carlos The Pharaoh) Born: May 13, 1956 Died: Jan. 30, 2008 |
| Kay Lenz credited as Kay Ann Kempler (Jane) Born: March 4, 1953 Birthplace: Los Angeles |
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| Lurking in the shadows. Kay Lenz plays "Jane," The young teacher's student sweetheart in Graffiti.. |
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| Kay Lenz in her highly-praised performance in "Breezy," (1973). Directed by Clint Eastwood. |
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| Talk about a veteran actor, Kay Lenz was acting since she was a baby. Her first role was on TV appearing in the arms of singer Dottie O'Brien on "Al Jarvis' Hollywood on Television." Her early TV career is prolific appearing on such shows as "The Andy Griffith Show," The Monroes," "Ironside," "The Tammy Grimes Show," and acted and sang in 165 episodes of "My Genie and Me." |
| Kay's first feature role was the bit part in American Graffiti. She played the student sweetheart of young teacher, Mr. Wolfe. The same year she had a prominant role in Clint Eastwood's Breezy. She won an Emmy for her work on an ABC Afternoon Playbreak "Heart in Hiding," (1974) and another one in 1988 as an AIDS vicitm who becomes romanticaly involved with the nightime radio host in "Midnight Caller." She continues to act in movies and televison |